So, we arrive in San Diego, all rested from our plane trip because the airplane wasn't crammed full and we had an empty seat between us so Mr. Troutbend had room to breath, and he'd had two double-scotches and I'd had a stiff rum and Pepsi, and it was neat because the airport is small there, and right next to the cruise pier, so we could see our ship - the Carnival Spirit - when we landed. Get on the bus, six minutes, we're getting checked in for the cruise, and 15 minutes, we're on the ship.
I have to admit that I have always thought Carnival was for people who couldn't afford better - too many rowdy kids, something like that. Well, it was first class, and much better than that Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of America cruise we took around Hawaii a couple of years ago. The service was better, the ship was cleaner, the food was better; just better all around. And what kids there were weren't any more rowdy or noticeable than anywhere else. Of course, there are probably times of the year when there are more kids, but not our problem.
Each of us casino winners had a magnetic plaque on our stateroom door welcoming us to the cruise, and every couple of days there was surprise like chocolate covered strawberries or champagne.
There were two days at sea, then we stopped at Acapulco. Mr. Troutbend went ashore looking for cigars and was harrassed by people offering everything from illegal drugs to women. He shook them all off except for a man who goes up to our neck of the woods in Northern Colorado to work for six months at a time and offered to guide him to the cigar shop.
The next day we were at Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico. Ixtapa is a relatively new town built by the Mexican government to attract tourists. Many Americans have retired there.
Next day was Manzanillo, which is a busy container shipping port and not as scenic unless you got off the ship and went to a beach. It was not as touristy, which the tourists on the ship complained about.
After that, we hit the deep water and headed for home. The last day on the ship was very windy and rough and many of us were sea sick. I was a little nauseated, but Mr. Troutbend actually threw up.
Now I'm the one who's seasick and he's fine. I should get my land legs back in a couple of days.
More in Part 3
5 comments on Free Cruise - Part Two Carnival Spirit
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Oh how I would love to take a cruise.
We met a couple from San Diego, who gave us a travelogue of the sights in the harbor as we set sail, and I decided she reminded me of you - or what I think you are like, so in a way you were on the cruise with us.
I have never been on a cruise and it doesn't seem likely any more. And we won't board our cats and ... and ... xx, T.
We were on Carnival Conquest and it was awful. Beautiful ship but no organization embarking and debarking. We had a lovely cruise on Norwegian Sun. I guess it depends on the Captain more than the cruise line. Our Norwegian Captain was lovely and mingled with the guests. That cruise was just after the hurricaine and we got mildly seasick because the water was so rough, but I love the motion of the ship. Conversely, we had a good cruise on one of the smaller carnival ships.
That's what worries me about doing a lot of it - sort of crap shoot. Usually we don't pick the cruise line - we go to join family members or this thing set up by the casino. I always read the reviews on the Internet where people complain and so forth, to get an idea of what to expect. It would be hard for us to just wake up one day and decide to book a cruise because there are so many options, we need help narrowing it down.